I spent the entire day STUCK in an airport–me, myself and I…plus three young children (a preschooler, toddler, and a baby). Given that the flight was supposed to be short and entail a very brief airport visit, I didn’t spend much time packing entertainment toys in the diaper bag. As shocking as it may sound, after eight hours waiting in the terminal, we finally walked off the plane at our final destination with big smiles on our faces–and still in good spirits.

Curious how I managed to survive all those hours WITHOUT losing my cool or dealing with meltdowns? Thank Melissa & Doug! As soon as I realized we were officially STUCK, we headed off to the terminal bookstore in search of puzzles. I found a fabulous, gigantic Melissa & Doug floor puzzle. We all plopped down on the floor near our gate and the kids spent hours assembling, disassembling and reassembling the puzzle. I even had a chance to read a book while they played beside me!

I’ve always loved Melissa & Doug products, but now I’m a bigger fan!

Do you have any airport survival tips for parents traveling with kids?

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If you’re planning to hit the beach with your kids to escape winter, don’t forget to pack these 7 sun essentials:

1. Sunblock. Sunblock shields against ultraviolet rays that cause skin cancer and prevents sunburn. Besides looking for a high SPF value, look for a waterproof, hypoallergenic, and tear-free formula to keep the kids happy.

2. Sun Hat. My favorite pick is a floppy hat, like Patagonia’s Floppy Sun Hat.

3. Beach tent. Whether you’re at the beach or a park with your baby, a sun dome is a must have. Look for a tent that provides instant shade and is easy to pack in a carrying case.

4. Safety SunBlock Shields. Whether driving to your destination or simply touring around in the sun, car sun shades keep your kids comfortable and safe. Munchkin even makes a sun shade with a heat alert feature, that let’s you know whether your car’s temperature is safe for your child.

5. Stroller Shade. If your stroller isn’t already equipped with a shade, you’ll definitely want to bring one along if you plan to spend much time outside in the sun.

6. Water Bottle or Sippy Cup. Make sure your kids stay well hydrated with their very own water bottle or insulated sippy cup. My top picks: an eco-friendly SIGG water bottle or a Munchkin insulated sippy cup by

7. Beach toys. Every trip to the beach needs toys, especially those for making sandcastles and digging in the sand!

Happy Travels!

I’m looking forward to ringing in the New Year.  Besides the excitement and promise the New Year brings, it also brings closure to hectic holiday travel–which means the return of the regular bedtime routine. 

When away from home, the bedtime routine my children have come to know usually goes out the window.  That includes “bedtime” itself.  What typically happens is that I get so wrapped up in family/friend activities and entertainment that I lose track of time.  I also see my children having such a fun time playing with their relatives and friends that I hate to put an end to those evenings of holiday fun.  I confess, it’s also a lot easier to completely let go of bedtime routines while on the road, especially when it means a hiatus from bedtime struggles.  

I admit, though, we all fare much better when we observe regular bedtime routines.  Happier children.  More patient parents.  Fewer temper tantrums.  After a few difficult days (the repercussions of late bedtimes), I’m starting to rethink bedtime on the road. 

I’ve discovered that experts and parents alike often suggest that sticking with regular bedtime routines while travelling can help preserve family harmony on the road, especially when travelling with toddlers.

Here are three additional tips for making bedtime on the road easier:

1.  Travel prepared.  Bring familiar bedtime/naptime comforts, like favorite stuffed animals or security blankets.

2.  Take a bed.  Bring along the travel crib, Snuggle Nest, or child travel bed.  For travel bed ideas, check out Graco’s Travel Bed or the absolutely adorable KidCo PeaPod travel bed.  Comfortable and well-rested kids make happy ones.      

3.  Avoid overstimulation.  Build breaks and downtime into your travel schedule, including naps or quiet time.

 Tell us, do your children keep a regular bedtime routine while on the road?  If so, what advice do you have for other parents looking to do the same?    

As I piled my kids into the car after the first snowstorm of the season, my preschooler asked, “Mom, is it safe to drive the car after it snows?”  After giving a brief age appropriate explanation about snow driving, I started thinking about ways to minimize driving hazards in all weather conditions–not just in snow.  Driving with precious kid cargo aboard makes safety an even bigger priority, especially since kid-related distractions can potentially increase driving risks.

Here are 7 tips for safer driving:

1.  Buckle up.  Everyone in the vehicle should wear a seat belt.  Kids should be properly restrained in age appropriate child seats–also be sure car seats are properly installed in your vehicle.     

2.  Be alert.  Put down the cell phone (or consider a hands-free headset if you must talk while driving).  Leave the MP3 player or radio alone while you’re in motion–wait until you’ve stopped.  Concentration is crucial.

3.  Keep safe distances.  Years ago, my driver’s education instructor explained the importance of the two (or three) second rule.  That rule says you need to stay a couple of seconds behind the vehicle you’re following.

4.  Be on guard.  This goes with being alert and keeping safe distances, but it also entails driving defensively–being ready to avoid accidents.  Having an escape route.  Just in case.

5.  Observe road rules.   Speed limits.  Road construction signs.  Cross-walks.  Red flashing bus lights.  Obeying traffic laws is a critical component for safe driving–as a bonus, when you obey those laws, it teaches your children to respect them, too. 

6.  Keep loose objects secured.   If you get into an accident, loose objects in the car, like toys or trash, could become projectile missiles.  Consider cargo nets or backseat organizers to contain your objects to keep you, your kids, and others safe.

7.  Discipline later, when possible.  A calm car is incredibly important for safe driving.  Teach your kids that your job is to keep them (and others) safe on the road.  This means they’ve got to behave in a safe way, too.  No throwing objects.  No yelling–that includes you, too!

Thanksgiving marks the start of holiday road trips for my family. As much as I love traveling with my children, I’ve learned that road trips, short or long distance, can be stressful when children are “bored” in the backseat.

Thankfully, though, there are plenty of kid-friendly “on the road” boredom busters. Here are a few ideas:

1. Check out MomsMinivan.com, a site with 101 Car Travel Games & Road Trip Ideas for kids of all ages. This site even has free printable bingo cards!

2. Purchase your child a lap desk, like the Alex Desk to Go (a travel must-have in my family!).

3. Pack a bunch of small toys (preferably ones that encourage quiet play!), but don’t let your child play with them all at once. Along the way give your child a “new” toy, and swap out the old–this way you get more play mileage out of each toy.

4. Bring along movies. If you don’t mind allowing your children to watch a video or two along the way, portable DVD players have really come down in price and may be well worth the investment.

5. Load up on Music CDs. There’s nothing quite like driving with happy, singing children!

It won’t be long before it’s time to renew my daughter’s first passport.  A bittersweet thought for me.  I’m sad to see her growing up so quickly (it really does go by that fast, doesn’t it?), but I take comfort in knowing that she’s been exposed to so many travel adventures in these early years.

My daughter took her first flight at two weeks old (as a passenger, of course!).  By the time her first birthday rolled around, she had logged more flights than I can remember—sorry, sweetie, but mommy obviously spent so much time in the air with you and trying to nap when you did that she simply didn’t get around to writing in your baby book. 

Today, my daughter is just as comfortable in a plane as in a car—this amazes me, given that I didn’t take my first flight until I was in college, and I felt far from comfortable on that flight! 

Up until my daughter turned two (the age at which children are required to have their own seats on a plane), the Baby B’Air Flight Vest made air travel especially comfortable for both of us—okay, at least for one of us. While I used the Baby B’Air many times with my daughter, it was a must-have when I travelled alone with her during those super squirmy months.  

The Baby B’Air is easy to use.  Your child wears the Baby B’air like an ordinary vest, and you simply attach the loop on the back of the Baby B’Air to your lap belt.   

It packs well, too.  Just shove it into the diaper bag.  

Don’t waste time feeling guilty about the thought of “confining” your child.  The Baby B’Air actually gives some slack, so your toddler will still have “just a lil’ bit” of wiggle room.  Trust me, I know from experience—so does that nervous first time flier who sat beside us on the way to Orlando.  Ma’am, I apologize if we made your travel anxiety worse.  But at least we arrived safely, right?

If you’re at all like me, you’ll appreciate both the added safety the Baby B’Air offers, particularly against unexpected turbulence, and the comfort of knowing you won’t have to spend the entire flight chasing your aspiring pilot down the aisle.

If you’re travelling by air over the holidays with a toddler, definitely check out the Baby B’Air Flight Vest.  Even if you don’t buy one to use with your own toddler, your familiarity with the product might just make a good conversation starter the next time you encounter a frazzled new parent at the airport.